The Soundstop 6mm Acoustic Rubber Underlay is an effective, budget-friendly solution for reducing impact noise in various flooring applications. Made from recycled rubber granules, this underlay is designed to work under laminate, engineered wood, and screed floors. Its dense construction delivers a soundproofing boost, reducing impact noise by over 20dB, and enhancing internal acoustics without adding much thickness.
How Does Acoustic Rubber Underlay Work?
This acoustic rubber underlay works by absorbing and dampening impact noise, preventing it from passing through floors. Its high-density rubber construction, with a weight of 4kg/m² and a density of 665kg/m³, creates a reliable barrier that effectively reduces sound vibrations, making it ideal for floors prone to impact noise like footsteps or furniture movement. Its firm surface avoids the "spongy" feel found in some other rubber underlays, ensuring a stable, solid foundation.
What Type of Noise Does Acoustic Rubber Underlay Stop?
This 6mm underlay excels at reducing impact noise, which is the noise generated by physical contact, such as footsteps, dropped objects, or moving furniture. It’s perfect for minimising sound transmission to the space below, making it ideal for residential or commercial spaces where quiet is essential. While it does not significantly reduce airborne noise, such as voices or music, it pairs well with other soundproofing materials to achieve a more comprehensive noise reduction.
Where Can the 6mm Acoustic Rubber Underlay Be Used?
The versatility of the 6mm Acoustic Rubber Underlay makes it suitable for use under laminate and engineered wood floors, as well as under screed on concrete floors. It can also be installed under carpets as an impact-resisting layer. Its firm surface makes it especially well-suited for spaces where maintaining a solid floor feel is important, like living rooms, bedrooms, and offices.
Use the Tecsound Membrane for Improved Performance
For those seeking additional airborne and impact soundproofing, combining the 6mm underlay with a Tecsound membrane—like Tecsound 50 or Tecsound 70—creates a high-performance sound barrier. Tecsound 70, with its additional thickness, adds around 4dB of protection compared to Tecsound 50, making it a smart choice for those aiming to reduce airborne sounds between floors. For even better performance, acoustic mineral wool can also be added beneath the floorboards.
How to Install the 6mm Acoustic Rubber Underlay
Installation of the 6mm underlay is straightforward:
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Prepare the Floor: Ensure the surface is clean, flat, and free of dust or debris. Any cracks or gaps should be filled for an even application.
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Lay the Underlay: Roll out the underlay across the floor, cutting it as necessary to fit around edges or obstacles.
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Secure the Flooring: Install your chosen flooring (laminate, engineered wood, or screed) directly over the underlay. No additional adhesives are required.
This setup effectively dampens impact noise while preserving a solid floor feel.
What Are the Benefits of the 6mm Acoustic Rubber Underlay?
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Excellent Impact Noise Reduction
Reduces impact noise by over 20dB, effectively minimising sounds like footsteps and furniture movement, creating a quieter environment in multi-story buildings and residential spaces.
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Firm Feel
Maintains a stable and firm foundation underfoot, unlike spongier options, making it ideal for laminate and engineered wood flooring without compromising floor stability.
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Cost-Effective
Provides high performance at an affordable price, making it a smart choice for both homeowners and landlords looking to meet noise control needs on a budget.
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Versatile Applications
Suitable for use under laminate, engineered wood, and screed, it’s adaptable to various spaces and flooring types, enhancing comfort and noise control in multiple settings.
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Environmentally Friendly
Made from recycled rubber, this underlay offers an eco-friendly soundproofing solution that reduces environmental impact while delivering reliable performance.
Using an Under Floor Heating System?
The 6mm Acoustic Rubber Underlay has a thermal conductivity of 0.12 W/mK. Check with your underfloor heating system’s manufacturer to ensure compatibility, as some systems may have specific requirements for use with soundproofing materials.
Replacing Carpet with Laminate?
We are regularly asked by householders about replacing carpet with laminates in their properties. The question is often whether the use of the Soundstop mat underneath laminates will "be as good as carpet" as often specified in building leases. There is no simple answer to this, as the quality of the original carpet, its underlay and sub-floor all have a bearing on how the original carpeted floor is performing.
If you're replacing carpet with laminate, this underlay can help maintain—or even improve—impact sound reduction, often meeting building lease requirements for impact noise control. While some carpets perform well for soundproofing, Soundstop 6mm Acoustic Rubber Underlay paired with laminate may surpass the performance of low-quality carpets, enhancing both sound reduction and the overall acoustic environment of the room.
The key difference with this and many other mats on the market is its relative firmness. This means that it is ideal to go under products such as laminates or engineered floors without creating a soft feeling floor. It is also very cost effective compared to many other impact mats on offer. It remains the number one choice for those laying laminate floor but wishing to deaden the impact sound they are generating to neighbours below.
Trying to Combat Noise from Below?
If noise from below is a concern, focus on solutions that target airborne noise, such as Tecsound membranes or acoustic mineral wool. While this 6mm underlay is highly effective for reducing impact noise, it’s best used in combination with other materials for airborne noise reduction when trying to insulate against sound from lower levels.
General Installation
This is a very simple product to fit. Simply cut to size of the room, where possible avoiding gaps and spaces. The new laminate engineered floor is simply laid over the floor and fitted as normal.
If laying this type of floor there is no need to add any further type of underlay. The mat is not normally glued to the sub floor, as it lies in place under its own weight. Where the need to glue is specified then isobond adhesive can be used or any other water based acrylic glue.
Please note that solvent based adhesives should not be used.
Where it is being laid under carpet, a carpet underlay should also be added (for comfort).
The mat can be turned up at the perimeter of the room if required to act as an integral flanking band and excess trimmed off. This is normally only necessary where a chipboard floor is being laid over and high traffic is expected.
The mat has very little thermal resistance so can be used alongside underfloor heating, it can be installed either above or below the UFH.
Best practice when using underfloor heating is to have a layer of PIR insulation, such as Celotex, at least 20mm thick, then overlaying it with the mat and then the underfloor heating. This will reduce any heat loss downwards.
Visit our Fitting Instructions section for more detailed instructions relating to your specific application.
Check out our Soundproofing Guides for more information, advice and tips on all aspects of soundproofing.
